Apparatus for manufacturing steel.



N. E. MAGCALLUM.

APPARATUS FOR MANUPAGTURNG STEEL.

, 1909. 959,146. Patented May 24, 1910.

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NORMAN IE. MACCALLUM, l0F PI-IOENIXVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- FOURTH." T0 FRANK P. NOBRIS, 0F 1:I-IDISIIBTIXVII'JLE,` PENNSYLVANIA, AND ONE-HALF `PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS 'FOR MANUFACTURING STEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 24, 1910.

Application; filed. February 4, 1909. Serial No. 475,958.

To all'whom tf/moy concern:

Be it-known that I, NORMAN E. MACCAL- LUM, a. citizen of the United-States,residing at Phoenixville, Chester county, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Apparatus for the Manufacture of Steel, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of steel and more particularly to improvements in the manufacture of open-hearth steel,. and 'consists essentially in the means for directing and controlling` the molten steel from the furnace to two or more ladl-es for the purposes and objects, and for attaining the results hereinafter particularly pointed out.

As is wellltnown to those experienced in this art from a commercial standpoint, practically insuperable difficulties have heretofore existed in attempts to control or direct the flow of molten steel as from an openhearth furnace, which steel in the molten -state must necessarily be maintained at an 1n the process of steel manufacture, thev enormously high temperature of the molten steel maintained in its passage from the furnace to the ladlesI and the great'force with which the molten -steel issues from the furnace almost precluding the thought of successfully controlling and directing it-as set forth.

This invention therefore as before stated, relates tothe means for thus controlling and directing the molten-steel at enormous temperatures so .that the same may be conducted from the furnace to two or more ladles in the manufacture of the product.

It has heretoforegenerally been the practice in the manufacture of open-hearth steel to provide each furnacelwith a ladle of sufficient capacity to hold the entire molten steel product-derived from a'single charge of the furnace; and in the operation of the furnacewhen tfhechargc has been-'reduced or converted into lsteel of thedesired quality an opening has been tapped in the furnace,

f and all of the molten steel in the furnace has been permitted to'run through the tapped opening and into the single ladle without interruption. Usually each steel plant is provided with several furnaces, and two or more cranes to serve :the ladles, the'cranes being generally less in number than 4the furnaces'.

In this old process, the size of the charge of the furnace, and consequently the size of the furnace, is practically limited by the size of the largest ladle that can be conveniently handled.

It.- is lwell known that the maximum charge which may be reduced in any furnace varies almost directly in proportion to the size of the furnace: thata small furnace requires the same number of men to operate it as is required by, a largefurnace; and that the Vcosts of repair, labor, material, brick, andffzuel areall greater in a small furnace than inz a large furnace, in proportion tothe capacity of the furnace. The costper ton of manufacturing steel is therefore reduced, as the size of the furnace is increased; but the maximum size ofV furnace which may be profitably handled with-alsingle ladle has been found to have a Vcapacity ofiabout '75 tons although 50 tons is aboutthe average size now in general use.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide improvedapparatus for the manufacture of steel, yand particularly for the metal' from. a furnace into each of two or more ladlesyand to provide other improvements as. will: appear hereinafter.

In thezaccompanying drawings lFigure 1 is a side elevation 1plartly in section of an open-hearth steel rnace constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3 a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the4 same; and Fi 4 a fragmentary top plan View of a portlon of the same.

Referring to the drawings, one embodiment of the apparatus forming part of this invention comprises the usua open-hearth steel furnace 1, mounted upon the I-beams 2, supported by standards 3 from the ground of foundation 4. This furnace 1 is provided with the usual channel 5 leading therefrom, through which the molten contents of the furnace may be discharged. This channel 5 is kept closed by clay or other suitable means while the charge is being melted in the furnace, and an opening is tapped through the clay after each charge is reduced to permit themolten steel to be discharged.

Communicating with the furnace 1 through the channel 5 and extending outwardly and downwardly from the furnace, is a substantially Y-shaped trough or conductor, comprising a central portion 6, the inner end of which communicates with the channel 5, and the outer end of which is bifurcated forming two branch portions 7 and 8 communicating with the central portion. The trough 1s preferably made of sheet steel lined with fire brick and rests upon the -beam 9, which is rigid with the I-beam 2 supporting the furnace.

Beneath the outer ends of the branches 7 and 8 of the trough are'arranged s aced fixed supports 10, 11 and 12, for holdlng a pair of ladles 13 and 14, the combined capacities of which are at least equal to the capacity of the furnace.v Each ladle 13 and 14 is provided with a pair of trunnions 15 and 16, whereby the ladle may be supported upon a crane or other conveyer, and the one ladle 13 is spaced at a greater distance from the furnace than the other ladle 14, whereby one of the trunnions 15 on one ladle overlaps the adjacent trunnion 16 on the other ladle, thus economizing the space between the ladles. The b-ranches 7 and 8 of the trough are made of uneven length to correspond to the uneven spacing of theladles from the furnace,lwhereby the outer end of each branch of the trough is brought into a proper position to discharge into its respective ladle.

For controlling the flow of metal-through the branches 7 and 8 of the trough, a bar 2O protected by refractory material is mounted upon a crank arm 21 which extends obliquely upward and inward and thc inner end of v.which is rigid with the end of horizontal controller shaft 22 rotatably mounted in bearings 23 yfixed upon the verticalgsupporting beams 24 upon the front of the furnace.

The shaft 22 is provided adjacent its outer end with a handle bar 25 rigid therewith and radiating outwardly therefrom whereby the shaft may be rotated ,to move the bar 2O into and out of operative position in the central portion 6 of the trough adjacent the entrances to the branches 7 and 8 thereof.

The refractory bar 20 when in operative position, 'rests upon or near the bottom of the trough 6 and is inclined rearwardly and upwardly therefrom. The shaft 22 to which the bar 20 is connected is movable longitudinally to move the bar 20 horizontally in the trough to direct the greater portion of the flow therethrough into either one of the branches 7 or 8 thereof.

For moving the controller shaft 22 longitudinally a hand lever 26 is pivoted atone end to a bracket 27 fixed upon the front of the. furnace ad'acent the outer end of the shaft 22. This lever extends loosely through an aperture 28, provided therefor in a head 29, rotatably mounted yupon the end of the shaft 22, the head having a tubular extension 30 rigid therewith telescoping loosely over the end of the shaft and being held rotatably in position thereon by means of set screws 31 threaded through the extension and engaging loosely in annular recesses 32 provided ltherefor in the cylindrical surface of the the handle bar and the hand lever, or bothmovements may be effected simultaneously.

For counter-balancing the controller and for holding the controller in an inoperative position, a series of weights 35 are provided, which are ycarried by a chain 36 between a pair of the spaced vertical beams 24 upon the front ofthe furnace. The chain 36 eX- tends from the weights upwardly over a pulley 37 rotatably mounted upon a countershaft 38, carried in bearings 39 fixed upon the spaced beams 24, and the outer end of the chain is carried downwardly around a pulley 40, fixed upon the shaft 22,'the outer end of the chain being secured to the pulley by means of a bolt 41. The weights 35 are so proportioned that the controller is nor- -mally held in an inoperative position, as

l municating with said channel for conducting' lar is secured upon the shaft at anequal interval upon the inside of the bearing, Whereby the travel of the shaft is limited in one direction by the end of the tubular extension and in the .other direction by the collar coming into contact with the bearing.

In the operation of this apparatus the furnace is charged as usual and the charge is reduced to molten steel by the usual process, the furnace is then tapped through the channel 5 and the entire molten contents of the furnace is then discharged through the channel and trough, and simultaneously into the ladlesuthe flow into each ladle being governed by the manipulation of the controller in the manner above described.

It is evidentin operating large furnaces, that were the steel to issue from the furnace, which it does with great force, Without means of control, one branch of the spout might convey much more steel than the others, and the ladle which received the greater portion Would overflow, cansino' loss of steel, and endangering the other lad es.

This invention may also be applied at sm-all cost for installation to any steel plant where two or more ladle cranes are in use, and where the furnace capacity is greater than that of the ladle, and Will enable any such plant to increase its product, to relatively decrease the cost of the product, and to profit by the general advantages gained by increased tonnage.

Although only a single form of apparatus has been described for putting this invention into practice, the invention is not limited to the particular apparatus described. lnstead of the trough having but two branches a trough having any number of branches may be used and many other changes might be made in the construction disclosed Without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described this invention, l claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States l. The combination with a stationary steel furnace, of a plurality of receptacles, means for discharging the contents of said furnace simultaneously from the furnace directly into said receptacles, and means for controlling the flow into each receptacle.

rlhe combination with a stationary steel furnace provided'with a channel for the discharge of molten steel from the furnace, of means communicating with said channel for conducting said molten steel simultaneously from the furnace directly into a plurality of receptacles, andmeans for controlling the flow into each of said receptacles.

3. The combination with a stationary steel furnace provided with a channel for the discharge of molten steel from the furnace, of a plurality of portable ladles, means comsaid molten steel simultaneously from the furnace directly into said ladles, and means for controlling the flow into said ladles.

4. The combination With a steel furnace, of a substantially Y-shaped conductor communicating With said furnace for discharging molten metal from said furnace simulltzneously into a palr of receptacles, and

means for cont-rolling the flow into eachof said receptacles.

5. The combination with a steel furnace of a bifurcated conductor communicating with said furnace for discharging molten steel from said furnace into a pair of receptacles, and means for controlling the flow into each of said receptacles.

6. The combination with an open-hearth A furnace, of a conductor communicating therewith and leading therefrom fordischarging molten metal from said furnace, the outer portion of said conductor being bifurcated to form branch conductors, a pair of portable ladles arranged beneath the outer ends of said branch conductors, and means for controlling the flow through each of said branch conductors.

7. A steel furnace having a channel for discharging the molten steel from the furnace With branch channels leading to tWo or more ladles, and a movable bar or grate provided in the first mentioned channel to regulate and control the flow of metal in the branch channels.

8. The combination with a conductor for a Huid current, of a controller for directing the flow of lluid therethrou h, said controller comprising a longitu inal movable ,rotatable shaft, means for rotating said shaft and for moving said shaft longitudinally, movable means connected to said shaft to engage in said conductor, and means to hold said movable means out of engagement with said conductor.

9. The combination With a conductor for a fluid current of a controller therefor comprising a longitudinally movable rotatable shaft, means to rotate said shaft, a head carried by said shaft and iiXed longitudinally thereof but rotatable with respect thereto, means engaging said head for moving said shaft longitudinally, and means carried by said shaft for engaging in said conductor for controlling the dow therethrough.

10. The combination With a steel furnace provided with a channel for the discharge of the molten steel from the furnace, of a conductor comprising a main portion communicating with said channel and leading out- Wardly therefrom, and branch portions of unequal length communicating With said main portion for directing the molten steel into a plurality of receptacles, a plurality of ladleseach provided With trunnions, and means for supporting said ladies beneath SMT means for controlling the flow of met-al through each of said branch portions.

12. The combination with a steel furnace of a conductor communicating with said furnace for discharging molten steel therefrom,

said conductor comprisin a central portion and two branch portions le and means mounted to en age in said central portion to distribute the iow of metal through said central portion into said branch portions. Y n

13. The combination with a steel furnace of a conductor communicating therewith for f conducting molten steel from said furnace,

inclined outwardly and .said furnace and terminating in a pair ofA said conductorcomprising a central trough inclined outwardly and downwardly from said furnace and terminating in a pair of branches communicating therewith, and a lhorizontally movable controller mounted to engage in said trough adjacent the entrancey to sald branches to contro the flow of molten metal therethrough. l.

14. The combination with a steel furnace of a conductor communicating therewith for conducting molten steel from said furnace, said conductorcomprisin a central trough ownwardly from branches communicatin therewith, and a horlzontally and vertica ly movable controller mounted to engage in said trough adj acent the entrance to said branches to control the flow of molten metal therethrough.

15. The combination with a steel furnace, of a conductor communicating therewith for conducting molten steel from said furnace, said conductor comprising a central trough inclined outwardly and downwardly from said furnace and terminating in a .pair of branches communicating therewith, a horizontally and vertically movable controller mounted to engage in said trough adjacent the entrance to said branches to control the flow of molten metal therethrough, said controller comprising a rotatable shaft mounted to be moved longitudinally and extending substantially horizontally, a crank arm rigid with said shaft at one end thereof, means connected with the free endA of said crank arm for engaging in said trou h, a handle bar at the other end of said sha t for ading therefrom,

charging molten meta from said furnace,

the' outer portion of said conductor being bifurcated to form branch conductors, and a pair of portable ladles arranged beneath the outer ends of said branch conductors, said ladles being spaced uneven distances from said furnace and said branch conductors bel ing of unequal length and each of said ladles bemg provided with o ppositely disposed trunnions, with a trunnion upon one ladle overlapping a trunnion upon an adjacent ladle.

17. The combination with a conductor for a fluid current, of a controller mounted to engage in said conductor to direct the flow therethrough, said controller comprislng a longitudinally movable rotatable shaft, a handle bar rigid with said shaft for rotating the same, a head carried by said shaft fixed longitudinally thereof, but rotatable with respect thereto, a hand lever mounted to oscillate on a fixed axis and engagmg said head for moving said shaft, and a counterbalance for said controller to hold the same normally in inoperative position.

' 18. The combination with a steel furnace,

'of stationary means for discharging molten steel from said furnace directl and simultaneously into a plurality o and means for controlling the flow into each receptacle. j

19. The combination with a steel furnace, of means for discharging molten steel from said furnace directly and simultaneously into a plurality of receptacles, and means located outside of said furnace for controlling the flow into each of said receptacles.

20. rlhe combination with a steel furnace, of stationary means for discharging molten steel from said furnace directly and simultaneously vinto a pluralit of rece tacles, and means arranged outsi e of said urnace for controlling the flow into each of sald receptacles.

21. The combination with a steel furnace provided with a channel for the discharge of molten steel from the furnace, of st ationary means communicating with sald channel for conducting said molten steel directly and simultaneously into a I urality of rece tacles, and means vfor contro llng the flow o steel into each lof said rece tacles.

22. The combination with a steel rnace, of a conductor for discharging molten steel from said furnace directly and simultaneously into aI plurality of rece tacles, and means engaging outside of s'ai furnace 1n said conductor'for controlling the flow of steel into each'of said receptacles.

receptacles, .c

23. The combination with a steel furnace, of a stationary conductorfor discharging molten steel from said furnace directly and simultaneously into a plurality of receptacles, and means engaging outside of said furnace in saidl conductor for controlling the flow of steel into each of said recep' tacles.

24. "The combination with a steel furnace, of stationary means for conducting molten steel .from said furnace directly and simultaneously into a plurality of receptacles, and means mounted to swing about a fixed aXis and coperating with said first mentioned means, for controlling the flow of metal into each of said receptacles.

25. The combination with a steel furnace, of stationary means for conducting molten steel from said furnace directly and simultaneously into a plurality of receptacles, and means mounted to swing about a fixed axis and cooperating With said first mentioned means, outside of said furnace, for controlling-the fioW of metal into each of said receptacles.

Inwitness whereof I have hereunto set4 my hand this 3rd day of February A. D,

NORMAN E. MACCALLUM. Witnesses:

A. I. GARDNER, ALEXANDER PARK. 

